With the economy going the way it is, people are now starting to look at less-expensive vehicles. In the past, most Canadians would be hesitant to even take a Kia for a test drive – the thoughts were ‘unreliable’ and ‘cheap’. Hyundai took over Kia in 1998 and Kia has been profitable ever since.
Both Hyundai and Kia have been making changes to their image, while more and more people are starting to look at Kia as a great way to get into a brand-new vehicle for less. Kia’s sales are up 20% this year – and with the introduction of the very funky-looking Soul, and now the introduction of the Forte Sedan and Koup, I have a feeling that things will continue on the upwards for this Korean Car company.
The Forte comes in a sedan and the 2-door Koup version. I have the Koup this week, and I have to point out that the only thing that is the same between these two cars is the hood! I will have the sedan at a later date, so I will share my thoughts on it then. I am impressed with the styling; all of my friends where shocked that this great-looking vehicle is a Kia! It’s not as unique as the Soul, but I am ok with that. The Soul’s appearance was a bit too unusual for me.
This Koup has a wide, aggressive-looking stance from the back with pretty taillights and dual chrome exhaust tips. The front has a blacked-out grille and a lower stance, and I really love the look of the two-toned wheels; it is a very unique touch that will definitely stand out if you are shopping for a car in this class. The interior is straightforward but nicely executed.
The only interior color to choose from though is black, in either cloth or leather. Kia knows this will be the volume seller, but I do worry that this might deter a few buyers. I have met several women who admit that color, whether interior or exterior, is a huge factor when they are looking at purchasing a vehicle! If you opt for the SX, you do get some nice chrome and shiny black accents throughout. Very nicely put together but not overdone. I think that this is definitely a big improvement from Kia.
You can choose from the base EX with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that develops 156 hp with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, or the SX trim with the 173-hp, 2.4L engine and 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic with manual mode. The base model starts at $18,495 and the SX is only $3,000 more. With the SX, not only do you get the more-powerful engine, you also get sport suspension, bigger wheels, alloy sport pedals and leather seats.
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| I am impressed with the styling; all of my friends where shocked that this great-looking vehicle is a Kia! |
Both Hyundai and Kia have been making changes to their image, while more and more people are starting to look at Kia as a great way to get into a brand-new vehicle for less. Kia’s sales are up 20% this year – and with the introduction of the very funky-looking Soul, and now the introduction of the Forte Sedan and Koup, I have a feeling that things will continue on the upwards for this Korean Car company.
The Forte comes in a sedan and the 2-door Koup version. I have the Koup this week, and I have to point out that the only thing that is the same between these two cars is the hood! I will have the sedan at a later date, so I will share my thoughts on it then. I am impressed with the styling; all of my friends where shocked that this great-looking vehicle is a Kia! It’s not as unique as the Soul, but I am ok with that. The Soul’s appearance was a bit too unusual for me.
This Koup has a wide, aggressive-looking stance from the back with pretty taillights and dual chrome exhaust tips. The front has a blacked-out grille and a lower stance, and I really love the look of the two-toned wheels; it is a very unique touch that will definitely stand out if you are shopping for a car in this class. The interior is straightforward but nicely executed.
The only interior color to choose from though is black, in either cloth or leather. Kia knows this will be the volume seller, but I do worry that this might deter a few buyers. I have met several women who admit that color, whether interior or exterior, is a huge factor when they are looking at purchasing a vehicle! If you opt for the SX, you do get some nice chrome and shiny black accents throughout. Very nicely put together but not overdone. I think that this is definitely a big improvement from Kia.
You can choose from the base EX with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that develops 156 hp with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, or the SX trim with the 173-hp, 2.4L engine and 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic with manual mode. The base model starts at $18,495 and the SX is only $3,000 more. With the SX, not only do you get the more-powerful engine, you also get sport suspension, bigger wheels, alloy sport pedals and leather seats.
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| If you’re looking at this vehicle to keep costs low, keep it in mind that the SX will burn slightly more fuel. |